July 13, 2026

The enactment of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act marks a meaningful step toward making sure more people can afford a safe, stable place to call home.

For too long, communities across Minnesota and across the country have had the ideas, partnerships, and local commitment needed to build and preserve homes, but outdated federal programs and limited tools have too often stood in the way. As a Minnesota-based organization working with communities nationwide, MHP knows that local leaders need federal tools that are flexible enough to meet local needs. This legislation helps remove some of those barriers. It gives communities more flexibility to build the homes they need, preserves rural rental homes that families and seniors depend on, supports manufactured housing communities, and strengthens programs that help people stay rooted in the places they call home.

We are especially grateful for Senator Tina Smith’s leadership in advancing the Rural Housing Service Reform Act as part of this package. In rural Minnesota and across the country, USDA-financed rental homes are often one of the only options people can afford. At MHP, we have seen this firsthand through our national rural housing preservation work, including helping partners in Minnesota and other Midwest states preserve USDA Section 515 homes through ownership transfers and other preservation strategies. Preserving these homes means older adults can remain near family, workers can live in the communities they serve, and small towns can keep the housing foundation they need to thrive.

This bill affirms what communities across Minnesota already know: housing is not a partisan issue. Every community needs homes people can afford. It reflects the same practical approach MHP has advanced through Yes to Homes: communities need modern tools, flexible rules, and local choices that make it easier to create the homes people need.

MHP is proud to have helped elevate the importance of rural housing preservation and community-driven housing solutions, and we look forward to working with partners to put these tools to use for Minnesotans.

—Anne Mavity, MHP Executive Director